Risky Business: An interview with Dena Garson

Two coworkers are brought together when an embarrassing bet is brought to light at the annual office party. Mia worries her trust in Jake, the company playboy, may place her heart and reputation at risk.

An excerpt from Risky Business

“And off they go,” Mia mumbled as she watched her traitorous friends weave their way across the room, leaving her alone with Jake. She turned and looked up into his eyes. Even though the lights were too low to see the exact shade, she knew they were the color of well-worn denim. “I hope you’re aware of what you unleashed on your pals.”

She considered the man standing before her. He was tall with broad, strong-looking shoulders. She knew he played ball with some of the guys in the office because she’d often heard them talking about the games over coffee in the break room. The way his shirts fit indicated he worked out. Add that to his classic blond hair and blue eyes and he was definitely drool-worthy, as Mandy would say.

The biggest question in Mia’s mind was whether or not he would ever see her as anything but an analyst with more opinions than boobs. Thankfully she had the data to back those opinions up.

“They may thank me in the morning,” Jake said with a twinkle in his eye.

“They might,” she conceded.

He stepped closer to Mia. Close enough that she could feel the warmth of his body radiating to her already flushed skin.

“Besides,” he lowered his voice and held Mia’s gaze, “it served its purpose.”

“What purpose is that?”

“To get you to myself.”

An interview with Dena Garson

How long have you been writing romance, and what inspired you to get into this genre?

I’ve been writing romance for about ten years. My best friend was the prompt I needed to start. She and I were discussing a book we had both read and she said “one of us should be writing this stuff.” I thought it was a fabulous idea so I pursued it. I found a local romance writing group, joined RWA and attended their national conference later that same year. After attending as many workshops as I could on writing and the romance industry, I began writing my first novel.

What gave you the idea for your latest book?

Risky Business was largely inspired by things I’d heard from friends at work. After working in a corporation for more than ten years there were lots of stories to draw from.

Who are some of your favorite romance writers or other literary inspirations?

There are several authors whose books I grab as soon as they come out – Julia Quinn, Stephanie Laurens, Karen Marie Moning, and Shana Abe. But I’ve always been a fan of Greek, Roman, Egyptian and Celtic myths so naturally The Iliad and The Odyssey captivated me early on. Mary Stewart’s Authurian Trilogy still sits on my bookshelf – and I read those in junior high! Jane Austen is another classic fave.

Describe your typical writing routine. Where do you usually write? How many words/pages per day? Do you keep set hours? What does your workspace look like?

I don’t have a routine. I work full time so I grab writing time where ever I can – it may be a lunch hour or while waiting for one of my kids to practice whatever sport they’re playing. Quiet evenings are considered precious commodities in my house!

When I have a chance to write I either curl up on the couch or on my bed with my laptop and cordless mouse. If it’s available, I put reruns of The Big Bang Theory on TV so I have some background noise.

Do you have any favorite foods or beverages that help keep your creativity flowing?

For some strange reason I find myself craving Goldfish crackers when I write. Unfortunately my cat also likes them and tries to sneak into the bag when I’m not watching.

Do you have any writing superstitions or rituals when starting (or ending) a new book?

Other than making backups of my backup files, no. Unless you count skipping through the house when I finish a book.

What do you think makes for a good romance story?

There has to be good chemistry between the hero and heroine and a reason for me to want to see them together.

What’s your favorite euphemism for genitalia?

I write sensual romance so I tend to use cock and pussy most often. But it depends on how hot and heavy the scene is. You have to mix it up a little and you’d be surprised how hard it is to come up with words that aren’t too over the top and coarse yet not “purple prose.”

What’s the strangest question you’ve ever been asked by a fan? And what was your response?

I don’t know if it’s strange but it was certainly uncomfortable for me! They asked whether or not I was effected (aka turned on) while writing my books. I answered honestly. I told them that I am usually focused on the process of writing – finding the words and describing the scene – more than enjoying the sensual nature of what my characters are doing. Not to say that I’m totally unaffected but it would be far more erotic if I were just reading it.

If you were in charge of adapting a scorching summer romance for the big screen, what book would you like to see made into a movie, and who would you pick to star as the male and female leads?

Oh, man. That’s tough. I read a lot but I don’t keep up with the younger actors and actresses. I would love to see the whole Black Hills Wolves series come to life on the big screen! But I know I’m a little biased.

About the Author

Dena Garson loves to read romance—the hotter the better. When one of her BFFs said “one of us should be writing this stuff”, she took up the challenge. If she isn’t writing, she’s designing jewelry but somehow she still manages to make it into the office on a regular basis.

You can connect with Dena on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, YouTube, Google+, Pinterest and her website, DenaGarson.com.

Giveaway

Dena will be awarding a Gift Basket that includes: a handmade tablet cover, tissue cover & tissues, handmade earrings, handmade stamped necklace (“We’re All Mad Here”), decorative pen, beaded bookmark, Dena swag (pen, nail file, sticker, magnet, key ring), and a Dena tee-shirt, to a randomly drawn winner (International) via Rafflecopter during the tour. To enter, use the widget below. And don’t forget to follow the rest of the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning! All tour dates can be found here.

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